For many election cycles, the Arab American Caucus of the California Democratic Party gathered in small conference rooms at party conventions, listened to speeches, made a few endorsements and went home.

This year, something different happened. "The room was packed," said Rashad Al-Dabbagh of Anaheim, who attended the state party convention in April as a member of the Arab caucus.

Seventy people crammed into two rooms at the Sacramento Convention Center for the caucus' Saturday evening meeting on April 13, including a record 28 Muslims recently elected as state party delegates.

Women in hijabs were seen wandering the convention floor, often stopped by state party officials asking, "'How can we help you?'" recalled Hussam Ayloush, one of the recently elected delegates.

So many people wanted to become leaders of the caucus that, for the first time in memory, the election for Leadership positions was contested.

And two Muslim members of the caucus, the recently elected mayor of the city of Bell and a school board member in Anaheim, held public office, another first.

The meeting, said Al-Dabbagh, was visible proof that California's Muslim community, a political sleeping giant, is beginning to awaken.

"The community is beginning ... to find its political voice," said Al-Dabbagh, an activist who has worked for several Orange County political campaigns. "It will find its place. It's just a matter of time."

Islam is America's fastest-growing faith, with the number of Muslims more than doubling since 2000, according to the 2010 U.S. Religion Census, a decennial survey conducted by an ecumenical coalition of religious statisticians. As many as 12 million Americans identify themselves as Muslim, according to different estimates.

Yet, until recently, Muslims were also the least politically active faith community. Only 65 percent of American Muslims are registered to vote, compared with 91 percent of Protestants and Jews, according to a 2011 Gallup poll.

First-generation Muslim immigrants often come from countries with autocratic governments where political participation is either discouraged or considered pointless or even dangerous.

"You're not ever going to change anything," Rohnda Ammouri, an Anaheim political consultant, recalls being told by elderly Business owners in the city's Little Arabia neighborhood when she asked for political donations.

Muslims are also far younger on average than members of other faiths (almost 20 years younger than the average Protestant), and many are immigrants who have not yet become citizens.

Recently, however, an emerging generation of American-born Muslims has begun flexing its political muscle, especially in regions of the country, such as California, New York and the upper Midwest, with large Muslim populations.

In California, home to roughly 1 million Muslims, the heart of that emergence is in Orange County. Nine of the 28 recently elected delegates to the state Democratic Party are from Orange County, where the Muslim population has been estimated at around 200,000. It's not known what percentage of California Muslims is registered to vote.

Related Links

Rashad Al-Dabbagh, one of 28 Muslims recently elected as a delegate to the California Democratic Party. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Rashad Al-Dabbagh is one of 28 Muslims recently elected as a delegate to the California Democratic Party. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A bobble-head doll of President Obama adorns the desk of Rashad Al-Dabbagh, one of 28 Muslims recently elected as a delegate to the California Democratic Party. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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